Follow up letter from Rosemary Mason MB ChB FRCA to Sir Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland regarding Glyphosate and an increased incidence of both human and animal disease.

Dear Sir Harry,

Two months ago I wrote to you as Chief Medical Officer for Scotland about the epidemics of obesity, type 2 diabetes and autism that were reported in Scotland during the course of 2013. A reply does not seem to be forthcoming.

After Samsel and Seneff published their paper: Glyphosate’s Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases[i], US mathematician and physicist Dr Nancy Swanson took crop and glyphosate data from the US Department of Agriculture and Disease Data from the US Centers for Disease Control. She found that thyroid cancer (incidence), liver cancer (incidence), diabetes, (prevalence and incidence), autism (prevalence), Alzheimer’s (deaths), Parkinson’s (deaths), Dementia (deaths), intestinal infection, inflammatory bowel disease and peritonitis were linked to the USDA glyphosate data. The Pearson’s Correlation Coefficients were very strong and the probability (p) was highly significant[ii]. In fact all of these diseases have increased in the UK in a similar manner.

In addition to this, we now have epidemiological evidence that glyphosate is at the root of many of the diseases of those on a Western diet(PDF).

In 2013 several long-term global health surveys were published. The Global Burden of Disease 1990-2010[iii]; the 1970 UK National Cohort Studies aged 42[iv], Pritchard’s Epidemiological Study of Neurological Mortality 1979-2010[v] and Alavanja’s Study; Increased Cancer Burden Among Pesticide Applicators and Others Due to Pesticide Exposure[vi] (an update on cancers linked to exposure to pesticides from the prospective US Agricultural Health Study)[vii]. These studies all show that the positions of the US and the UK have deteriorated in comparison with other developed nations in the last 20-30 years.

They have common features with regard to the patterns of disease over the last 20-30 years. In the US: “However, morbidity and chronic disability now account for nearly half of the US health burden, and improvements in population health in the United States have not kept pace with advances in population health in other wealthy nations”[viii]. In the UK: “The performance of the UK in terms of premature mortality is persistently and significantly below the mean of EU15+ and requires additional concerted action… premature mortality from several major causes such as cardiovascular disease and cancers…growing burden of disability, particularly from mental disorders…deserves an integrated and strategic response”.

In both nations the Agrochemical Corporations have been allowed to work within the Governments, shaping agricultural policy[ix] and controlling pesticides regulation and food safety[x].

One step too far against civil society.

On September 23rd 2013, the British Government joined forces with Monsanto, EFSA and the EU Commission to fight civil society in the EU Court to defend the right to import Monsanto’s transgenic soybean Intacta® which produces an insecticide and is resistant to glyphosate herbicides such as Roundup®. This will involve even more glyphosate residues in food and feed. http://www.testbiotech.de/en/node/898

The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty’s Government about this case and whether any organisations are contributing to Her Majesty’s Government’s legal costs in that case. (HL3054).

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health, (Earl Howe) (con) replied: The United Kingdom has a strong interest in the science-based system underpinning genetically modified product applications and so has applied to intervene in this case, which concerns the authorisation of genetically modified food and feed. Any intervention will represent the view of the government as a whole and the only likely external legal costs will be those from instructing counsel and costs of attending any hearing should that prove necessary.

Why are the stated positions of the Scottish and Welsh Governments on GM crops in the EU once again being ignored by the British Government? Has Scotland ever been consulted, considering the fact that Scottish taxpayers will foot the bill for this very dubious support of a multinational corporation that pays no taxes in this country?

This morning I read in the Guardian of the rise in global use of antidepressants. Between 1996 and 2011 the use of antidepressants in the United Kingdom has trebled. In the US, more than 10% use the medication. In Stephanie Seneff’s interview with Jeffrey Smith you will see that glyphosate residues deplete serotonin and dopamine levels[xi]. That explains both depression and Parkinsonism. That is why SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) work on depression, whereas counselling or cognitive behaviour therapy is unlikely to be effective. Don’t blame the doctors. Put the blame firmly on the agrochemical industry and their supporters where it belongs.

[vi]http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21170/full A growing number of well-designed epidemiological and molecular studies provide substantial evidence that the pesticides used in agricultural, commercial, and home and garden applications are associated with excess cancer risk. This risk is associated both with those applying the pesticide and, under some conditions, those who are simply bystanders to the application.

Improvement Center (CIMMYT) will focus on the development and advancement of technology in wheat through joint research and development in the areas of native and GM traits, hybrid wheat and the combination of seeds and crop protection to accelerate plant yield performance.

The partnership will leverage both Syngenta’s genetic marker technology, advanced genetic traits platform and wheat-breeding for the high-income countries, as well as CIMMYT’s access to wheat genetic diversity, global partnership network, and wheat-breeding programme targeted to the low‑income countries (p88). Monsanto will provide proprietary germplasm, advanced breeding tools and expertise, and drought-tolerance transgenes developed in collaboration with BASF (p89).

4 Responses to “Epidemiological Evidence: Glyphosate at the Root of many Diseases”

Glyphosate locks up essential metal nutrients so they cannot be used. But insulin needs chromium to work. Your heart needs chromium, zinc and other nutrients to function. Vitamin B-12 is a cobalt centered molecule. Lack of B-12 affects cell division and growth. This causes a problem with fertility, fetus development, and the ability to remember new things [Alzheimer’s] You cannot be healthy if you lack essential nutrients or poison yourself with Bt-toxin, glyphosate, 2,4D, mercury, fluorine, arsenic, aluminum, barium, or other toxins. But these can now be found in our food. http://NoGMO.FarTooMuch.Info/LabelGMO.htm

Irene: I live in a farming community and have talked with many farmers who complain that the USDA shows up at their door telling them what they can and cannot do. They waste their time, fine them for any infraction and much more harassment. It seems that they don’t want anyone to practice good farming/gardening habits that are sustainable.
When you say “they” are you talking about the USDA? Or is this some sort of city council or other entity?

I wonder what the diet was like of the people who do schoool shootings? Of the 14 yr old who raped and murdered a girl in highschool yesterday? Of the mentally ill bombers? Barbara Stitt PdD. Says “Ask any criminal, agressive or violent behavior parole and they will BRAG that they live on JUNK food.” JUNK food is loaded with HFCS and soy fillers, all GMO. GMO is sprayed with glyphosate, which destroys our gut bacteria ( immune system and gut/brain connection) and breaks down the blood brain barrier, allowing toxins in. These people are having their pysiologly, their brins, moods, and ability to make sound decisions affected by the chemicals in their body. The food manufacturers, I believe we will find, are just as responsible as the lax gun laws and people who sell guns to mentally ill. Love someone who is unhealthy? LOOK TO THEIR FOOD AND WATER and the chemicals in them. Go to http://www.momsacrossamerica.com/blog for more info and Samsel interviws.

I’m getting hassled by the weed controle board. There is snow on the ground and everything is dormant but still they want to spray poison on the weeds and charge me as the landowner, then they wonder why they have to spray more and more acreage every year?